DOE/ORO/2327 Oak Ridge Reservation Annual Site Environmental ...

Oak Ridge Reservation
the CNF (permit number TN0074225) was issued by TDEC and became effective on November 1, 2003.
The current permit for the ETTP storm water outfalls (permit number TN0002950) was issued by TDEC
and became effective on April 1, 2004. This permit expired on March 31, 2008. ETTP discharged storm
water under the expired NPDES Permit until March 31, 2010.
An application for a new NPDES storm water discharge permit was submitted to TDEC in October
2007. The new NPDES permit was issued on February 26, 2010 and became effective on April 1, 2010.
This permit will remain in effect until December 31, 2013. This NPDES Permit regulates the discharge of
storm water runoff, groundwater infiltration, groundwater from sumps, and steam condensate from ETTP
to Mitchell Branch, Poplar Creek, and the Clinch River. There will be 108 NPDES-permitted storm water
outfalls at ETTP addressed in the reissued permit listed in two groups based on the types of flows being
discharged through the outfalls.
Management of the sanitary sewer system at ETTP has been turned over to the City of Oak Ridge
(COR) as part of an agreement between DOE, the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee
(CROET), and the City of Oak Ridge. Under this agreement, sewage from ETTP is now being piped to
the Rarity Ridge sanitary sewage treatment plant located approximately one mile west of ETTP. The
NPDES permit for this facility is assigned to the COR who performs all monitoring and reporting
required by the permit.
All BJC connections to the sewage colleciton system are covered by a “No Discharge Certification”
process derived from the COR wastewater control requirements in accordance with the City Sewage
Treatment Plant NPDES permit. The “No Discharge” certification states that BJC Operations will only
discharge waste that is associated with normal quantities of material associated with normal human
habitation to the COR sewage collection system. These discharges primarily include waste from break
rooms, rest rooms, change houses, etc. As part of the “No Discharge Certification” process, notification is
provided to the COR by BJC when planned operational changes are made to BJC facilities that could
affect the COR sewage collection system. ETTP is also subject to the provisions of the COR “Sewer Use
Ordinance”, which defines the terms and conditions under which the COR accepts discharges to its
sewage collection system.
3.5.1.1 ETTP NPDES Permit Requirements
The ETTP NPDES permit regulates the discharge from ETTP of storm water runoff, groundwater
infiltration, and groundwater from sumps to Mitchell Branch, Poplar Creek, and the Clinch River. Unless
otherwise stated, all storm water outfall groups also receive general site runoff, which may include storm
water runoff from grassy areas, roads, and paved areas within ETTP.
There are 121 permitted storm water outfalls at ETTP regulated under NPDES Permit
No. TN0002950. Of the 121 total outfalls, 38 representative outfalls are required to be sampled. The
outfalls are grouped into four categories based on the types of flows being discharged through the
outfalls.
• Group IV storm water outfalls—Group IV outfalls generally flow continuously. They may
discharge storm water runoff, groundwater infiltration, and groundwater from sumps. These outfalls
receive storm water runoff from site industrial operations that have the greatest potential for
contamination. The representative outfalls in this group must be monitored weekly for flow and pH
and quarterly for oil and grease and total suspended solids (TSS) (Table 3.6).
• Group III storm water outfalls—Group III outfalls flow continuously or intermittently. They may
discharge storm water runoff, groundwater infiltration, and groundwater from sumps. These outfalls
receive storm water runoff from site industrial operations where there is a potential for contamination.
The representative outfalls in this group must be monitored monthly for flow and pH and quarterly
for oil and grease and TSS (Table 3.7).
• Group II storm water outfalls—Group II outfalls flow intermittently. They may discharge storm
water runoff, groundwater infiltration, and groundwater from sumps. These outfalls do not have a
significant potential to discharge contaminants. The representative outfalls in this group must be
monitored quarterly for flow and pH and annually for TSS (Table 3.8).
3-28 East Tennessee Technology Park